Soft focus with any lens on Nikon D80

I have tried a lot of different approaches to try to isolate and/or fix this problem. I have used 3 different lenses. Set up on tripod. Changed the ISO from one extreme to another. Used Auto ISO, tried both manual and auto focus. I took my camera to a local Wolf camera store and had them check it out. Same results...soft focus even though the image appears sharp and in focus in the VF. I can clean it up quite a bit using software, but I should have to do this. I should be able to get a sharply focused image to start. Any thoughts?

Sorry, I left that out of the equation. I upgraded to the firmware and re-tested. No Improvement. When I wnet to Wolf today, they tried a VR type lense and it offered no improvement. They tried it on a tripod both manual and AF as well. I have samples if you think they would be helpful.Sorry, I left that out of the equation. I upgraded to the firmware and re-tested. No Improvement. When I wnet to Wolf today, they tried a VR type lense and it offered no improvement. They tried it on a tripod both manual and AF as well. I have samples if you think they would be helpful.

All images have been shot using a tripod. No matter shich ISO I use, I get soft focus with 3 different lenses. One of which has VR. Is there a way to do a hard reset of the system?All images have been shot using a tripod. No matter shich ISO I use, I get soft focus with 3 different lenses. One of which has VR. Is there a way to do a hard reset of the system?

Hi..
This is the procedure to do Hard reset...
Find the two buttons with green dots next to them on the top right of the D80. They are the +/- * and AF * buttons. Hold them both down for a few seconds. The top LCD blinks and everything is back to normal.
If u forget it u may have the resolution or White Balance or ISO or God knows what set to something screwy and spoil all ur shots. u can also face see WB problems on the LCD, but won't notice until u leave D80 at ISO 1,600 from the night before. That's why u should always use reset.
Reset leaves the detailed menu tweaks alone. It's smart enough to reset only the big dumb things..
Reset resets flash exposure compensations and sync modes, but doesn't reset any screwy settings you may have made in Custom Setting 22 for remote or manual flash. Reset resets mostly everything tactical, which is mostly you see on the top LCD. It leaves alone strategic items like languages, file numbering and Optimize Image settings..

Please, try reducing a sampless to a Jpeg file less than 150K, and upload here using the Insert Image button on the top bar.

Tell me also how long ago the camera had been purchased. And if it is still under warranty.Since you already went through firmware upgrade, and the tech at the shop tested the lens, then it may be a defective lens control.In that case ask for replacement

Please, try reducing a sampless to a Jpeg file less than 150K, and upload here using the Insert Image button on the top bar.

Tell me also how long ago the camera had been purchased. And if it is still under warranty.Since you already went through firmware upgrade, and the tech at the shop tested the lens, then it may be a defective lens control.In that case ask for replacement

I think the only one to fix that is to reset the program or the chips inside by using a program in the system. Because the problems of this in only a soft focus.. i think this is not a reason to make some adjustment but i tell you if you a program to restore it settings, maybe could be better.

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If you mean a manual-focus lens, just focus the lens using the focus ring on it.

If you mean a non-electronic lens, then you need to set the camera to Manual exposure mode. Control the shutter speed by turning the command dial. Control the aperture by turning the aperture ring on the lens. You will get no metering assistance from the camera: you can use another light meter (this includes using a different lens on your camera just to get an exposure reading) or just take pictures and look at the results on the LCD.

Not sure this will help you: In AF-S mode, the camera will not shoot until it acquires focus. Look on page 29 of the D80 manual. Now, does another lens make the same noise of only this lens. Can you try the lens on another camera? What this is attempting to do is eliminate the camera or, the lens, that way you know where to go next.

If your 70-300 lens is using VR and your 18-135 lens is not then this is correct. VR uses a lot of battery juice so you should try to keep it off if you are not using it. Also, try toset auto-focus off also if you are concerned about battery life.

Be sure the lens is firmly switched to M/A. For some reason the camera is not acquiring a subject to focus on. Have you tried a simple subject with lots of contrast, like a black something against a white background. Cameras have a tough time whenever there is too little contrast or nothing specific to focus on.

usandy,
You can set the focal point by toggling the menu switch (you can see it moving around into different locations as it "wraps" around the viewfinder, now depending on your f-stop the area that is not in focus will be soft, you can also experiment with the autofocus lock on you subject and evn try amnually focusing on your subjects.
randy320sgi